How is pain controlled?

Pain control relies on medications, and palliative care teams are experts in selecting the right combination. Pain medication ranges from mild pain relievers such as aspirin and paracetamol to medium and strong pain relievers such as morphine and related opiates. Certain sources of pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and steroid medications as well.

Additional complementary measures can also be used in conjunction with medical treatments to enhance their effectiveness and possibly reduce the amount of medication needed. Some of these complementary measures include:

• diversion therapies that distract and hold the person’s attention, lessening their pain awareness;
• exercise or support for painful body parts;
• hot or cold packs;
• physiotherapy techniques (for example laser therapy and ultrasound);
• positioning and repositioning of the body; and
• therapies such as massage, relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, music and art therapy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and acupressure, to name a few.